Introduction

It’s no secret that New York City is an expensive city to explore. Whether you’re going to spend time at the Met, MoMA or just walking around Central Park, there is a good chance that your wallet will feel the burn after your trip. But there are ways to save money while still enjoying all that NYC has to offer! Here are some tips on how to spend time in NYC without spending any cash (or very little).

How to Spend a Day in NYC Without Spending A Penny: a blog about how to get the most out of visiting NYC without spending too much.

You can have fun in NYC without spending money. You can spend a day in NYC without spending money. You can get the most out of visiting NYC without spending too much. You can get the most out of visiting NYC without spending money.

Go to the free exhibits at the MoMA and the Met.

• The Museum of Modern Art

MoMA is a great place to visit if you want to see some of the most famous pieces of art in the world with no cost involved. It’s free on Fridays from 4pm-8pm, and admission is also free on Wednesday afternoons between 10am and 5pm. You can even stay later on Saturdays until 5pm.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met (as it’s called by New Yorkers) has hundreds of galleries filled with incredible paintings, sculptures, textiles and jewelry that are worth seeing at least once in your life. It’s open until 5pm every day except Mondays and Tuesdays when it closes at 8 pm instead of 5pm.

Spend some time taking in all that nature has to offer. Bonus points for catching a glimpse of an egret, finch, cardinal or brown-headed cowbird!

If you want to be among the birds, spend some time taking in all that nature has to offer. Bonus points for catching a glimpse of an egret, finch, cardinal or brown-headed cowbird!

The Central Park Conservancy website is a great resource for free events, including birding walks and sunset sails. If there’s something you want to do but can’t find it on their calendar of events page—maybe it’s not listed as a “free” event—give them a call at 212-310-6600 and see if they might have something going on that day or time slot. The staff at the Central Park Conservancy are incredibly friendly and accommodating; chances are good that if you ask nicely enough (and make it clear this is not just another person looking for something for nothing), they’ll probably help you out!

See an Improv Show

The best way to get a taste of the city’s vibrant comedy scene is by seeing an improv show. Improv is a great way to see people doing what they do best, because each show will be different depending on who shows up on any given night. And while some people are intimidated by this concept, it actually makes it easier for anyone to relate: no matter how well-versed you think you are in comedy, there’s no telling what might happen during an improv performance!

There are plenty of options for seeing improv in NYC; here are some suggestions:

• Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Theater on East 23rd Street has two shows nightly at 8pm and 10pm. You can buy tickets online or at the door for either show—or maybe even both! The theater also hosts classes throughout the week in case you want to hone your craft before attending a full-on show.
• Magnet Theater performs out at Chelsea Market from 7pm until 10pm on Thursdays through Saturdays (and sometimes Sundays). Tickets can be purchased online starting one month before the date of purchase (the sooner you buy them, though, the better seats will be available—they usually sell out quickly!).

See Columbus Circle

This is where you’ll find the famous statue of Christopher Columbus, his sword raised high in triumph. The traffic circle is named for him as well. In addition to this monument, Columbus Circle also has a fountain and an ice skating rink in the winter time!

See Central Park’s Shakespeare Garden

• Shakespeare Garden

Located near the Central Park North entrance, this small garden pays tribute to William Shakespeare with quotes and other tributes inscribed into a stone wall. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery of Central Park while you’re there, so take some time out of your day to enjoy it!

• Conservatory Garden

If you prefer more greenery and less history, then head over to The Conservatory Garden which is located on Fifth Avenue between 105th Street and 106th Street. This garden offers beautiful flower displays during every season, making it perfect for any time of year!

You can have fun in NYC without spending money.

You can have fun in New York City without spending money.

That’s right. All you need is a little bit of imagination, and you can experience the city for free. I’ve written about how to spend a day in NYC on a budget before, but now I want to talk about all of the other ways you can enjoy yourself without paying money—and how to do that cheaply!

Let’s start with some obvious ones:

• There are lots of free museums! You can look up local museums in your guidebook or online before your trip (or ask someone who lives there), and figure out when they’re open so that you don’t end up wasting time by visiting them when they’re closed. Most museums require an ID card or pass if they are charging admission fees; if not then just walk right through without buying anything! Free museum days include Mondays and Fridays when school groups aren’t visiting during summer months; check websites ahead of time so that you know what kind of crowds will be around each day at each place (e.g., crowded vs empty).

Conclusion

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